Explore how Axar Patel’s all-round brilliance and skipper Shubman Gill’s leadership propelled India to a remarkable win at Edgbaston ODI.
Axar Patel’s All-Round Show Outshines England
Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium witnessed a sensational cricket match on July 14, 2026, as India secured a brilliant six-wicket victory over England in the first ODI. After a disappointing run in the T20I series, the visiting side welcomed back key veteran players and delivered a complete performance. The undisputed star of the match was all-rounder Axar Patel, who made massive contributions with both the ball and the bat to guide his team across the finish line.
England’s Great Recovery Falls Short
Earlier in the day, England won the toss and elected to bat first. The home team started well with Ben Duckett hitting an aggressive 43. However, India’s bowlers quickly took control of the game.
A sudden middle-order collapse saw the hosts slip from a comfortable position to a worrying 107 for 6. Paceman Prasidh Krishna took two wickets in a single over, removing Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to put major pressure on the English lineup. See also:Â India Crush England by 270 Runs in Historic Clash
Just when it looked like India would roll over England’s batting unit, veteran Joe Root and spin-bowler Liam Dawson joined forces. The duo put together a spectacular 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Root played a calm and composed knock of 76 not out, while Dawson registered a career-best 68 off 83 balls.
However, Axar Patel broke their dangerous partnership and went on to clean up the tail, claiming 4 wickets for 62 runs. England was eventually bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs.
Gill Leads the Chase Despite Injury Scare
Chasing 259 for victory, India faced early setbacks. Star batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fell cheaply within the first nine overs. Despite the early losses, skipper Shubman Gill took control of the chase.
Gill showed amazing class, hitting 11 boundaries and a six in his smooth knock of 80 off 75 balls. Unfortunately, the captain had to retire hurt due to severe cramps when India still needed 110 runs.
Gill’s departure sparked a quick wobble as Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul fell in rapid succession. Suddenly, India found themselves under pressure.
Unbeaten Century Stand Seals the Victory
With the match hanging in the balance, Axar Patel joined Washington Sundar in the middle. The two left-handers played with great patience and intelligence. They calmly rotated the strike and punished bad deliveries to take the game away from England.
Axar Patel registered a superb 57 not out from 52 balls, while Sundar reached a career-best 52 not out off 63 balls. Sundar finished the game in style by hitting a majestic six down the ground, which also brought up their unbeaten 102-run partnership. India comfortably reached 262 for 4 in 45.2 overs, securing a vital 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
